The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: JSC3ATLCSO on April 20, 2009, 11:53:41 PM
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I'm thinking about getting my FFL. Any feed back on this is welcome.
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One thing I've heard is that the guy who runs or is part of the Violence Prevention Center has an FFL. He lives in D.C. Appearently, if you hold the FFL you are allowed to carry even in a non-carry state or D.C. Nevermind the hypocrisy, if you have an FFL you use it for business proposes and not for personal conviences, so I've heard.
Feel free to correct my facts if they're wrong. My source for that infor was this forum though. ::)
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From the BATF site.
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http://www.atf.gov/firearms/fflc/ffl/faqs_genques.htm#q3
See the 3rd question?
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Remember the ATF also enfroces all state and local laws, so start there.
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Yeah, I was planning on it. I was just wondering if anyone has any input on whether it is worth it or not or anything. I am going to try and do a meet and greet with one of the local agents in the area.
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Well, if you want to try your hand at selling firearms for profit, its worth it. Otherwsie, no.
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Well. I'm looking for something to do on the side.. Not to get rich by or anything but I figure between myself and family and friends someone should have one to try and save us all some money. Charge a minimal amount for transfers and such. $200 for the first three years and $30 p/year after doesn't seem like a bad investment
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Nothing wrong with that. There are more "kitchen table" FFLs then there are brick and morter.
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Nothing wrong with that. There are more "kitchen table" FFLs then there are brick and morter.
Do be aware though that you wil deal with some predjudice. My dealer won't accept a transfer unless it comes from a brick and mortar store. He doesn't want to be undercut by guys on gunbroker. Just because you have an FFL doesn't mean you'll be able to ship where you want. Sites like gunbroker and guns america have lists of local ffls available. Likewise so do many manufacturers. You want to get on those lists.
FQ13
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F those dealers. Most manufactors( not all) sell to a whole seller, that then sells them to retailers. Most of those whole sellers have large min orders, very few kitchen table guys could come up with the cash to make that. when I was working at a FFL, one of the whole seller had a 30k min order. That could be 1500 guns. Not many people could legally store those in thier home. Not to mention the man power issuse. you must log in the gun the same day you get it. Lets just say it takes 2 mins( its more like 4-5) to log each gun for 500 guns that would be 16 hours and 40 mins. if they got there latter then 7 am, you could not do it.
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From what I have heard, there is supposed to be a profit motive, not just the ablity to buy cheaper for yourself. Location has to be zoned appropriatly for retail. I have heard that they don't want kitchen table dealers out of the house. I do know a dealer or two that have an actual shop at their house, but it is a seperate entrance with the shop just within that entrance and not down the basement at the other end of the house etc. Insurance considerations come to mind, you certainly don't want to go with out it and get sued from someone who shoots off their toe. Might be best to draw up a business plan to see what it will cost you to operate the business and if it would be worthwhile. It might cost more that it's worth if the business size is too small. A lot if not most distributors and wholesalers want you to be stocking dealers and before you can purchase from them you have to meet their qualifications. One guy I now did have a closet he leased in the backroom of his wife's business for his business and he ended up putting all his personally owned firearms into inventory to be able to qualify as a stocking dealer. I don't know how the legality of that worked from a business and taxes point of view, but it enabled him to have a stocking inventory without putting out additional capital to purchase a bunch of stock. With the guns and ammo shortage there is right now, it may be difficult to find a distributor or wholesaler that will be willing to pick you up as a new cutomer. If you do this out of your house, do you really want the BATF coming to your house for an inspection? Remember the paperwork, the BATF gets very picky. At least on the 4473, they don't like abbreviations. I know one guy that had a real shop and was ill and closed his doors while he recovered. They day he opened back up a few months later, the BATF showed up and spent three days going over everthing. He was chastized for undotted i's and uncrossed t's. On tranfers, one dealer I know charges $25 and was told by BATF that he need to charge more, that $25 was not enough to be making a profit. You may want to consider an 03 FFL, a curio and relics license. Information on a 03FFL can be found here:
http://www.cruffler.com/becomingcruffler.html